Did you have any difficulties organizing, aggregating, or summarizing your data?I found that organizing my data in Excel was beneficial for my analysis. However, I encountered challenges when trying to create a clear and informative graph from the data. Initially, I laid out all my raw data and calculated the mean leaf damaged proportion for each species at both high and low elevations. However, when Excel generated the graph, I realized that some adjustments were necessary to improve its presentation. To enhance the graph’s clarity, I made modifications to ensure a better flow of information. I also included a standard deviation bar to provide a measure of variability.
Was the outcome as you expected?As I mentioned in my previous blog post or assignment, the outcome of my study was as expected. I predicted that Salal would exhibit a higher degree of leaf damage (herbivory) compared to Daphne. In addition, both species have less leaf damaged at high elevation compared to lower ground elevation. The results of my study confirmed these expectations.
Did your data reveal anything unexpected or give you any ideas for further exploration? While the overall results aligned with my initial expectations, there were a few unexpected findings within the data that sparked some intriguing ideas for further exploration. I noticed significant variations in leaf damage proportions among plants at the same elevation level, particularly in Salal. For example, I had a sample of Daphne at high with a leaf damage proportion of 0%, while the other had 18.18%. This emphasizes the need for further investigation into the potential influence of environmental factors, including microclimatic variations and the presence of competing plant species, on herbivory patterns.
